After a car wreck, injured victims should schedule a consultation with a car accident lawyer. Murphy Trial Law offers consultations for free, so don’t hesitate to reach out to our firm. This is your chance to feel out how the lawyer communicates and whether you feel confident in their knowledge. We recommend asking the following questions.
How many car accidents have you handled?
Car accident cases are unique. They aren’t like other areas of law, like criminal law or divorce law. You should ask how much experience the lawyer has with motor vehicle collisions. Ideally, you will hire someone who regularly handles car accident cases as part of their practice.
How much compensation can I receive?
The goal of a legal claim is to seek financial compensation for a motorist’s damages, including the cost of fixing their car but also medical bills and lost income if you can’t work. We can also request money for pain and suffering and similar intangible losses.
A lawyer should provide a basic estimate of how much your claim might be worth. They could also need more information, so this is just an estimate.
Will my case settle, or do you think I’ll go to trial?
At Murphy Trial Law, more than 90% of our cases settle. We can usually get the other side to agree to reasonable compensation for your injuries. Nonetheless, some cases do end up going all the way to court for various reasons, including intense disputes over fault. An attorney should review the facts as you know them and analyze the likelihood of obtaining a successful settlement.
What should I do to protect my legal rights?
Some accident victims make mistakes after an accident which weakens their case. For example, they might stop going to treatments or rehabilitation. Stopping too soon means that you could end up with less compensation because the defendant blames you for your ongoing disabilities and lingering pain.
A lawyer might also have advice for how to handle social media. You want to avoid talking about your case on Facebook, Instagram, or other social media sites. In fact, we usually recommend setting your profile to private so that no one can snoop on you and not adding any new friends until your case settles.
How much do you charge?
You need to understand at the outset how a lawyer charges for his or her services. You don’t want to be blindsided if you get a bill in the mail and can’t pay it.
At Murphy Trial Law, we handled car accident cases on a contingency fee basis. We agree not to charge any legal fees. Instead, we only accept a percentage of any settlement or jury verdict. That means you won’t owe us a dime unless we win your case.
An ethical lawyer should always answer questions about how they charge. You should also receive a written fee agreement if you hire them. Don’t be afraid to bring up money issues. We realize that money is tight for many accident victims.
How do you communicate with clients during a case?
Communication is key to the attorney-client relationship. Although we handle all the legal work for you, your input is still needed. For example, we can’t accept a settlement unless you agree to it.
Some lawyers leave their clients in the dark. They never return calls or send emails, and clients end up feeling frustrated. That’s not our approach. We remain available to our clients throughout their case to answer questions and address concerns.
Will I talk to a lawyer or a case manager?
Some firms have paraprofessionals who do almost all the legal work. You might never see your lawyer until you go to the office to pick up your settlement check. Find out who you will communicate with if you have questions about your case.
What other information do you need?
Car accident cases require a lot of information. A lawyer will probably tell you to:
- Keep copies of all medical bills and receipts;
- Preserve communications from the insurance company;
- Share the names of any witnesses to the accident;
- Document where you feel pain in a journal.
This information can prove critical when negotiating a settlement for a car crash.
How long will my case take?
Our clients need money as soon as possible, often because they can’t work. This is a financially stressful time. Remember to ask a lawyer for an estimate of how long a case will take.
There are many factors to consider. For example, there might be questions about who caused the accident. That fact matters in Washington. If you are partially to blame, you’ll receive less in compensation, so both sides take a close look at the facts and might disagree over responsibility for a car accident. Disagreements like these can delay a settlement. We can usually settle a case in 6 months but there are always exceptions.
Can I receive compensation if I have no car insurance?
With skyrocketing inflation, some consumers are cutting corners, so they might stop paying their insurance. We understand the tough choices people make to stay afloat.
Some states are “no pay, no play.” If you don’t have insurance, you have fewer rights than an insured motorist. For example, you might not be able to seek money for pain and suffering.
Washington isn’t one of these states. That means you can still seek full compensation from the at-fault driver for an accident. Let us review the insurance issues and decide how to maximize your compensation.
Call Murphy Trial Law Today
Our firm is committed to empowering the public to make sensible choices after they suffer injuries in a car accident. You deserve fair compensation and a lawyer who has your best interests at heart. Contact our firm to schedule a meeting with one of our team members. You can ask any questions that you want in a free consultation. If you like our communication style, we can go ahead and formalize the relationship at that point.
